Commuters in NSW are no longer required to wear masks on public transport following rule changes, but NSW Health continues to recommend them.
Announced by Premier Dominic Perrottet, the mask mandate was lifted at 12am this morning (21 September) and includes taxis and rideshare services, transport waiting areas and the indoor areas of cruise terminals.
“This is a common sense approach that brings the rules into line for people travelling on buses or trains with those for planes and airport terminals,” Mr Perrottet said
NSW Health continues to recommend that people wear masks where they cannot physically distance from others, and in settings where there were vulnerable people and those at high risk of severe illness.
Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard said masks still played a significant role in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
“Continuing to wear a mask in crowded areas will be particularly important for people who have underlying health conditions or who are vulnerable to COVID-19 infection for other reasons,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Wearing a mask in these settings will not only protect those around you, but will also reduce your risk of infection,” he said.
“We can all continue to help protect each other, but particularly those most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, by staying at home when feeling unwell, taking a COVID-19 test straight away and self-isolating.”
Minister for Transport, David Elliott welcomed the lifting of the mandate, saying the people of NSW had demonstrated that they would do what was required to protect themselves and each other from COVID-19 and “I have no doubt they will continue to do so”.
